In the Philippine Sea 39 kilometer from Hualien City, Taiwan, a shallow and significant M5.8 earthquake occurred in the afternoon of Friday May 10th, 2024. Roughly 23 million people may have felt this earthquake. Other nearby countries are Japan and China.
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Earthquake Summary
This earthquake hit under water in the Philippine Sea, right off the coast of Taiwan (12 mi offshore), 39 kilometer north-east of Hualien City in Hualien County. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 11 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.
Date and Time: | May 10, 2024 15:45 (Taipei Time) - May 10, 2024 07:45 Universal Time. |
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Location: | 39 km NE of Hualien City, Hualien County, Taiwan. Coordinates 24°11'19"N 121°54'18"E. |
Map: | Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps. |
Magnitude: | MAG 5.8 Detected by 33 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.054 . |
Depth: | 11 km (7 mi) A very shallow depth. |
Max. Intensity: | VI
Strong On the Modified Mercalli Scale. |
Tsunami Risk: | Low tsunami risk Earthquakes under MAG-6.5 do not usually cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here. |
Minimal impact predicted
Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (USGS), the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 96% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.
The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 96% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 10 million USD.
Roughly 23 million people exposed to shaking
An estimated 23 million have been exposed to shaking (An MMI or Modified Mercalli Intensity level II or higher) as a result of this earthquake according scientific estimates published by the USGS.
The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is VI, which corresponds with strong shaking and probably light damage. Roughly 1,540 people are expected to be exposed to this level. Intensity level IV was experienced by the majority of people (around 14 million). In their region, light shaking and likely no damage can be expected.
People in 3 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Taiwan , around 23 million people, with impact levels up to VI (strong shaking, probably light damage). People were exposed to shaking in Japan as well.
People | MMI Level | Shaking | Damage |
---|---|---|---|
0 | I |
Not noticable | None |
630 | II |
Very weak | None |
8,837,000 | III |
Weak | Probably none |
14,330,000 | IV |
Light | Likely none |
234,500 | V |
Moderate | Very light |
1,540 | VI |
Strong | Light |
0 | VII |
Very Strong | Moderate |
0 | VIII |
Severe | Moderate to heavy |
0 | IX |
Violent | Heavy |
0 | X |
Extreme | Very heavy |
Nearby towns and cities
Taiwan , Japan and China are all located within 300km distance of the epicenter of the earthquake.
Hualien City in Hualien County, Taiwan is the nearest significant place from the epicenter. The earthquake occurred 39 kilometer (24 mi) north-east of Hualien City. The intensity of shaking and damage in Hualien City is estimated to be around level V on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (moderate shaking, very light damage).
Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. Taipei is located 103 km to the north-northwest and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Xiamen is located 389 km to the west (intensity unknown, possibly low). Fuzhou is located 334 km to the northwest (intensity unknown, possibly low).
An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below. If places don't have intensity data available, it likely means the experienced impact in those places was fairly small.
Overview of nearby places
Distance | Place | Intensity (MMI) |
---|---|---|
39 km (24 mi) SW from epicenter |
Hualien City Hualien County, Taiwan. |
V
Moderate |
65 km (40 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Yilan Yilan County, Taiwan. |
IV
Light |
98 km (61 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Puli Nantou County, Taiwan. |
IV
Light |
99 km (62 mi) NW from epicenter |
Daxi Taoyuan City , Taiwan. |
IV
Light |
102 km (63 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Banqiao New Taipei City, Taiwan. |
IV
Light |
103 km (64 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Taipei Taipei City, Taiwan. |
IV
Light |
106 km (66 mi) N from epicenter |
Keelung Keelung, Taiwan. |
III
Weak |
109 km (68 mi) NW from epicenter |
Taoyuan City Taoyuan City , Taiwan. |
IV
Light |
117 km (73 mi) NW from epicenter |
Hsinchu Hsinchu County, Taiwan. |
IV
Light |
124 km (77 mi) W from epicenter |
Taichung Taichung City, Taiwan. |
IV
Light |
126 km (78 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Zhongxing New Village Nantou County, Taiwan. |
III
Weak |
127 km (79 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Lugu Nantou County, Taiwan. |
III
Weak |
130 km (81 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Nantou Nantou County, Taiwan. |
III
Weak |
137 km (85 mi) W from epicenter |
Yuanlin Changhua County, Taiwan. |
IV
Light |
148 km (92 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Douliu Yunlin County, Taiwan. |
IV
Light |
189 km (117 mi) SW from epicenter |
Yujing Tainan City, Taiwan. |
III
Weak |
218 km (135 mi) SW from epicenter |
Tainan Tainan City, Taiwan. |
III
Weak |
229 km (142 mi) E from epicenter |
Ishigaki Okinawa, Japan. |
|
239 km (149 mi) SW from epicenter |
Kaohsiung Kaohsiung, Taiwan. |
III
Weak |
243 km (151 mi) SW from epicenter |
Donggang Pingtung County, Taiwan. |
III
Weak |
246 km (153 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Magong Penghu County , Taiwan. |
|
270 km (168 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Hengchun Pingtung County, Taiwan. |
|
307 km (191 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Fuqing Fujian, China. |
|
309 km (192 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Jiangkou Fujian, China. |
|
310 km (193 mi) NW from epicenter |
Tantou Fujian, China. |
|
324 km (201 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Putian Fujian, China. |
|
334 km (208 mi) NW from epicenter |
Fuzhou Fujian, China. |
|
337 km (209 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Luoyang Fujian, China. |
|
344 km (214 mi) W from epicenter |
Jinjiang Fujian, China. |
|
345 km (214 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Quanzhou Fujian, China. |
|
350 km (217 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Hirara Okinawa, Japan. |
|
355 km (221 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Songcheng Fujian, China. |
|
364 km (226 mi) NW from epicenter |
Ningde Fujian, China. |
|
365 km (227 mi) W from epicenter |
Jincheng Fukien, Taiwan. |
|
367 km (228 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Ximeicun Fujian, China. |
|
383 km (238 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Jinxiang Zhejiang, China. |
|
388 km (241 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Fuding Fujian, China. |
|
389 km (242 mi) W from epicenter |
Xiamen Fujian, China. |
|
394 km (245 mi) NW from epicenter |
Fu’an Fujian, China. |
Earthquake Intensity Map
The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is VI. The map below shows in which areas this earthquake was the most and least impactful. It is based on data from the US Geographic Survey.
Shaking reported by 23 people
People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 23 people have reported shaking in 14 places, all within Taiwan.We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.
Places with most reports:
- Yungho, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan: 8 people.
- Chupei, Hsinchu Hsien, Taiwan: 2 people.
- Taichung, Taichung Shih, Taiwan: 2 people.
- Hualian, Hualien, Taiwan: 1 person.
- Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung Shih, Taiwan: 1 person.
- Keelung, Keelung Shih, Taiwan: 1 person.
- Shalu, Taichung Hsien, Taiwan: 1 person.
- Chungho, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan: 1 person.
- Hsichih, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan: 1 person.
- Sanhsia, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan: 1 person.
8 Aftershocks detected
This main shock was followed by 8 smaller aftershocks. Just 1 day after this main shock, an earthquake measuring MAG-4.8 was detected 26 km (16 mi) south-southwest of this earthquake.
Before this earthquake struck, 9 smaller foreshocks occurred. Roughly 6 hrs before this earthquake, a foreshock measuring MAG-5.1 was detected nearby this earthquake.
Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks
Classification | Magnitude | When | Where |
---|---|---|---|
Foreshock | M 4.2 |
3 days earlier May 7, 2024 20:48 (Taipei Time) | 63 km (39 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
Foreshock | M 4.2 |
3 days earlier May 8, 2024 01:21 (Taipei Time) | 64 km (40 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
Foreshock | M 4.4 |
2 days earlier May 8, 2024 04:19 (Taipei Time) | 42 km (26 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
Foreshock | M 4.9 |
2 days earlier May 8, 2024 16:40 (Taipei Time) | 64 km (40 mi) SSW from Main Shock. |
Foreshock | M 4.4 |
2 days earlier May 8, 2024 19:31 (Taipei Time) | 62 km (39 mi) E from Main Shock. |
Foreshock | M 4.1 |
19 hrs earlier May 9, 2024 20:36 (Taipei Time) | 45 km (28 mi) SSW from Main Shock. |
Foreshock | M 5.1 |
6 hrs earlier May 10, 2024 09:35 (Taipei Time) | 63 km (39 mi) SSW from Main Shock. |
Foreshock | M 4.9 |
6 hrs earlier May 10, 2024 09:37 (Taipei Time) | 48 km (30 mi) SSW from Main Shock. |
Foreshock | M 4.1 |
6 hrs earlier May 10, 2024 09:40 (Taipei Time) | 48 km (30 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
Main Shock This Earthquake |
M 5.8 |
May 10, 2024 15:45 (Taipei Time) | - |
Aftershock | M 4.8 |
4 mins later May 10, 2024 15:49 (Taipei Time) | 5 km (3 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
Aftershock | M 4.2 |
25 mins later May 10, 2024 16:10 (Taipei Time) | 43 km (27 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
Aftershock | M 4.0 |
15 hrs later May 11, 2024 07:07 (Taipei Time) | 46 km (29 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
Aftershock | M 4.6 |
22 hrs later May 11, 2024 13:16 (Taipei Time) | 46 km (29 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
Aftershock | M 4.8 |
1 day later May 11, 2024 17:44 (Taipei Time) | 26 km (16 mi) SSW from Main Shock. |
Aftershock | M 4.1 |
1 day later May 11, 2024 19:09 (Taipei Time) | 42 km (26 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
Aftershock | M 4.2 |
1 day later May 12, 2024 03:07 (Taipei Time) | 23 km (14 mi) W from Main Shock. |
Aftershock | M 4.0 |
2 days later May 12, 2024 05:47 (Taipei Time) | 39 km (24 mi) WSW from Main Shock. |
More earthquakes coming?
Earthquakes can create aftershocks. These are generally at least 1 magnitude lower than any main shock, and as time passes the chance and strength of aftershocks decreases.
It's always adviced to be cautious of the risk of a larger shock following any significant earthquake, however this risk is fairly small. There is a roughly 94 percent change that no larger main shock will follow in the days following this earthquake.
Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).Earthquakes like this happen often in the region
Earthquakes of this strength are very common in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since April 23rd, 2024, when a 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit 52 km (32 mi) further south-southwest. An even stronger magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck on April 2nd, 2024.
In total, 38 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.8 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every 3 months.
Low tsunami risk
Based on early data it appears this earthquake was not strong enough (lower than MAG-6.5) to be likely to cause destructive tsunami's. However this earthquake appeared to have hit at a shallow depth under sea, so stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.
Tsunami Risk Factors
Factor | Under Sea? | MAG-6.5 or stronger? | Shallow depth? |
---|---|---|---|
Explanation | Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami. | Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's. |
Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor. |
This Earthquake | This earthquake appears to have struck under the sea. | Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 5.8. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami. |
This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 11 km (7 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami. |
Sources
Last updated 26/06/24 05:58 (). As more information on this earthquake becomes available this article will be updated. This article is automatically composed based on data originating from multiple sources.